Albemarle Corporation
- Open
- 132.00
- Day high
- 138.08
- Day low
- 131.23
- Prev close
- 134.97
- Volume
- 1.5M
- Mkt cap
- $16.0B
- P/E (TTM)
- 282.4
- EPS (TTM)
- $0.48
- P/B
- 1.6
- P/S
- 2.7
- Yield
- 1.20%
- Per share
- $1.62
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) is a Basic Materials company listed on NYSE. The stock is up 72% over the past year. Drillr has 8 published research articles covering ALB.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 7 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
ALB earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2026 | $3.20 | $3.75 | +17.2% | $1.7B | +8.5% |
| May 7, 2026 | $1.24 | $2.95 | +137.9% | $1.4B | +6.6% |
| Feb 11, 2026 | $-0.40 | $-0.53 | -32.5% | $1.4B | +6.0% |
| Nov 5, 2025 | $-0.86 | $-0.19 | +77.9% | $1.3B | +2.4% |
| Jul 30, 2025 | $-0.83 | $0.11 | +113.3% | $1.3B | +4.6% |
| Apr 30, 2025 | $-0.62 | $-0.18 | +71.0% | $1.1B | -7.5% |
| Feb 12, 2025 | $-0.60 | $-1.09 | -81.7% | $1.2B | -7.8% |
| Jul 31, 2024 | $0.53 | $0.04 | -92.5% | $1.4B | +3.3% |
| May 1, 2024 | $0.25 | $0.26 | +2.9% | $1.4B | -2.7% |
| Feb 14, 2024 | $0.99 | $1.85 | +86.9% | $2.4B | +2.3% |
| Nov 1, 2023 | $3.99 | $2.74 | -31.3% | $2.3B | -13.1% |
| Aug 2, 2023 | $4.27 | $7.33 | +71.7% | $2.4B | -4.7% |
ALB insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2026 | DESALLES BARTOLOMEO EDUARDOdirector | Grant | 1,375 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Collins Michelle Tdirector | Grant | 1,250 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Collins Michelle Tdirector | Grant | 2 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Cramer Ralf Hansdirector | Grant | 1,250 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Cramer Ralf Hansdirector | Tax | 929 | $136.08 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | STEINER GERALD Adirector | Grant | 36 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Van Deursen Hollydirector | Grant | 1,250 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | STEINER GERALD Adirector | Grant | 1,250 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Wolff Alejandro Danieldirector | Grant | 1,250 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Cramer Ralf Hansdirector | Grant | 36 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Wolff Alejandro Danieldirector | Grant | 33 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Widmar Mark Rdirector | Grant | 1,250 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | BRLAS LAURIEdirector | Grant | 36 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | OConnell Diarmuid B.director | Grant | 36 | — |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Cramer Ralf Hansdirector | Tax | 13 | $136.08 |
Source: ALB SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jul 23, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full ALB insider & 13F page →ALB research & analysis
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Chile's new government's US-China balancing act eases policy risks for critical minerals miners, with diversified copper leader FCX and lithium producer ALB emerging as top winners, while Chile-centric SQM lags. Financial metrics highlight FCX's superior margins and valuation, positioning it for gains amid stable supply chains. Investors should track Chilean tax bills and lithium pricing for confirmation.
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Japan and France's critical minerals pact targets lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, favoring US-listed producers like SQM, ALB, and MP amid supply chain diversification. SQM leads with strong margins and guidance, while developers like LAC offer upside leverage. Ranked picks highlight scale and policy alignment as winners.
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Albemarle Corporation company profile
Overview
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) is a leading global specialty chemicals company founded in 1887 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company has evolved from its origins as a paper and fiber manufacturer into one of the world's largest producers of lithium, a critical material for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. Albemarle went public in 1994 and has grown through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion to become a dominant player in the lithium value chain, while also maintaining significant positions in bromine-based specialty chemicals and refining catalysts.
Business
Albemarle operates through three primary business segments that serve distinct industrial markets. The Energy Storage segment represents the company's lithium business, which has become its largest revenue driver, accounting for approximately 60-70% of total revenues. This segment produces lithium compounds including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium chloride that are essential raw materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and grid-scale energy storage systems. Lithium carbonate and hydroxide are white crystalline salts that serve as the foundation for battery cathode materials - without these compounds, modern rechargeable batteries cannot function. The Specialties segment focuses on bromine and bromine-based chemicals, contributing roughly 20-25% of revenues. Bromine is a naturally occurring element that Albemarle extracts primarily from brine operations. The company produces elemental bromine and various brominated compounds used in fire safety applications, oil and gas drilling fluids, water treatment, and pharmaceutical synthesis. Bromine-based flame retardants are critical safety components in electronics, textiles, and construction materials, as they help prevent or slow the spread of fires. The Catalysts segment represents approximately 10-15% of revenues and produces specialized catalysts used in petroleum refining processes. These catalysts, including hydroprocessing and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, enable oil refineries to convert crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and other refined products more efficiently while meeting environmental standards. The segment also produces organometallic compounds used in various industrial applications.
Revenue model
Albemarle generates revenue primarily through direct product sales to industrial customers across its three segments. In the Energy Storage business, the company sells lithium compounds to battery manufacturers, automotive companies, and electronics producers under both long-term contracts and spot market arrangements. Approximately 50% of lithium sales are secured through long-term agreements that often include price floors to provide revenue stability, while the remaining 50% are sold at prevailing market prices or short-term contracts. The Specialties segment operates on a more traditional chemicals business model, selling bromine and brominated products to customers in construction, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial sectors. Revenue here is driven by both volume sales and the company's ability to command premium pricing for specialized formulations. The Catalysts business generates revenue through sales to oil refineries, with demand closely tied to global refining capacity utilization and regulatory requirements for cleaner fuels. Several factors significantly impact Albemarle's profitability and margins. On the positive side, the company benefits from the global transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, which drives strong long-term demand growth for lithium products. The company's vertically integrated operations, from lithium extraction through conversion to finished products, provide cost advantages and supply chain control. Additionally, Albemarle's diversified geographic footprint with operations in Chile, Australia, China, and the United States helps mitigate regional risks. However, the business faces margin pressures from lithium price volatility, which can be extreme due to supply-demand imbalances in this relatively small market. Commodity price cycles, energy costs, and currency fluctuations also affect profitability. Competition from new lithium producers, particularly in China, and potential technological disruptions in battery chemistry represent ongoing challenges. Environmental regulations and permitting delays can impact expansion plans and operational costs across all segments.
Competitive moat
Albemarle possesses a moderately strong competitive moat built primarily on its vertically integrated lithium operations and high-quality resource base. The company's crown jewel is its ownership stake in the Atacama Desert operations in Chile, which produce lithium from brine at some of the lowest costs globally. These salt flat operations benefit from exceptional lithium concentrations and favorable evaporation conditions that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. The company also owns the Wodgina hard rock lithium mine in Australia through a joint venture, providing resource diversification. The technical expertise required for lithium extraction and conversion creates additional barriers to entry. Albemarle has decades of experience in lithium chemistry and processing, which translates into operational efficiency and product quality advantages. The company's established customer relationships with major battery and automotive manufacturers provide some switching cost protection, as these customers value supply reliability and technical support. However, the moat faces several challenges. The lithium industry has attracted significant capital investment, with new producers entering the market and existing players expanding capacity. Chinese companies have been particularly aggressive in building low-cost conversion capacity, which has pressured margins industry-wide. Additionally, while lithium resources are geographically concentrated, they are not as rare as once believed, and new extraction technologies may unlock previously uneconomical deposits. The company's bromine and catalysts businesses have narrower moats, operating in more mature markets with established competition. While Albemarle maintains strong market positions in these segments, they face ongoing pressure from commodity cycles and competitive dynamics. Overall, Albemarle's moat is primarily dependent on its lithium operations and the continued growth of the electric vehicle market, making it vulnerable to technological shifts or significant new supply additions.
Risks & safety
Albemarle's margin of safety appears moderate but has deteriorated from previous highs due to challenging market conditions in 2024. • **Liquidity and Solvency**: Strong financial position with $1.5 billion in cash and $3.1 billion in available liquidity. Current ratio of 2.1x and debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36x indicate solid financial health. Net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.4x is manageable but elevated from historical levels. • **Cash Flow Concerns**: Free cash flow turned negative in 2024 (-$984 million for full year) due to heavy capital expenditures and margin compression. However, the company targets breakeven free cash flow for 2025 through reduced capital spending and operational improvements. • **Valuation Metrics**: Trading at reasonable valuation multiples with P/E of 51x (based on depressed 2024 earnings) and P/B of 0.84x. EV/EBITDA of 13.8x appears elevated but reflects cyclical earnings trough. • **Operational Risks**: Significant exposure to lithium price volatility, with approximately 40% of global lithium capacity currently operating at or below breakeven. The company has implemented substantial cost reduction programs targeting $300-400 million in savings.
Recent development
Over the past two years, Albemarle has undergone significant strategic restructuring in response to challenging lithium market conditions. The company has aggressively reduced capital expenditures by over 50%, cutting planned spending from $1.7 billion in 2024 to $700-800 million in 2025. Major capacity expansion projects have been delayed or modified, including idling the Kemerton Train 2 facility in Australia and stopping construction of Train 3, while placing the Chengdu conversion facility in China into care and maintenance. The company has implemented comprehensive cost reduction initiatives, eliminating nearly 1,000 roles (6-7% of the global workforce) and targeting $300-400 million in annual cost savings. Albemarle has also optimized its product mix, shifting the Qinzhou facility from lithium hydroxide to carbonate production to better match market demand patterns. Strategically, the company has focused on maintaining its competitive advantages while preserving financial flexibility during the market downturn. Management has emphasized the importance of long-term contracts, with approximately 50% of lithium volumes sold under agreements with price floors. The company continues to advance the Kings Mountain lithium mine project in North Carolina, though at a measured pace given current market conditions. Recent quarters have shown signs of operational improvement, with the Energy Storage segment achieving 36% EBITDA margins in Q1 2025 and volume growth resuming after the market correction. The company has also strengthened its balance sheet through customer prepayments and improved working capital management.
ALB company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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